Drinks holder

ABSTRACT

A cup holder, especially for a motor vehicle, has a box-like pedestal ( 12 ) that has a placement surface ( 14 ) on its top, and a box-like cover ( 16 ) that is arranged over the pedestal. The side surfaces of the pedestal ( 12 ) serve as a guide for the cover ( 16 ), the cover having a recess ( 18 ) that is concentric with the placement surface ( 14 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cup holder of the type usedespecially in motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a cup holder has to fulfill a multitude of requirements. First ofall, it has to be able to securely accommodate and hold a large varietyof different containers. Secondly, it has to be possible to move it froman operational position, in which it can accommodate the containers,into a stand-by position requiring a minimum of space, and vice versa.In the stand-by position, the cup holder should preferably not bevisible, for example, it should be concealed behind a cover, orintegrated in some other manner into a lining surrounding it so as togive an overall harmonious visual impression.

The cup holders known so far have not always successfully fulfilledthese requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a cup holder that fulfills theabove-mentioned requirements.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a cup holder is provided,especially for a motor vehicle, comprising a box-like pedestal that hasa placement surface on its top, and a box-like cover that is arrangedover the pedestal, the side surfaces of the pedestal serving as a guidefor the cover, the cover having a recess that is concentric with theplacement surface. This cup holder distinguishes itself by its compactdesign, and the placement surface arranged visibly in the middle canserve to store, for example, coins or other small items when the cupholder is not being used.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are apparent from thesubordinate claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below with reference to two embodimentsthat are depicted in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cup holder according to a first embodiment of theinvention in the retracted state;

FIG. 2 shows the cup holder of FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 3 shows the cup holder in an intermediate state without thesheathing part;

FIG. 4 shows the cup holder of FIG. 3 in the extended state;

FIG. 5 shows a cup holder according to a second embodiment of theinvention in the retracted state;

FIG. 6 shows the cup holder of FIG. 5 in a partially extended state;

FIG. 7 shows the cup holder of FIG. 6 in the completely extended state;and

FIG. 8 shows the cup holder of FIG. 5 in the completely extended state.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a cup holder according to a first embodiment of theinvention. It can be installed in a lining part 5 of a motor vehicle,for example, the lining of the center console, and consists of abox-like pedestal part 12 that has a placement surface 14 on its top.This placement surface 14 is provided with an anti-slip rubber covering.

A box-like cover 16 is placed over the pedestal 12 so that the sidewalls of the cover 16 are guided along the side surfaces of the pedestal12. In order to improve the guidance, the pedestal 12 and the cover 16have cross sections that match each other and are preferably square. Thecover 16 has a recess 18 that is concentric with the placement surface14.

The cover 16 can be moved relative to the pedestal 12 between aretracted position (see FIG. 1) and an extended position (see FIG. 4). Aspring (not shown) is provided that urges the cover 16 into the extendedposition. In the retracted position, the placement surface 14 isarranged approximately flush with the top of the cover 16 and inside therecess 18. The placement surface 14 can then be used to keep small itemssuch as coins, etc.

In the retracted position, the cover 16 is held by a click-click lockingmechanism of which a curved path 20 can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such alocking mechanism is generally known, so that it does not need to bediscussed here in greater detail. By pressing on the cover 16, thelocking mechanism is released so that the cover 16 is moved into theextended position (see FIG. 4). In order to prevent this from happeningabruptly, a toothed rack 22 is arranged in the cover 16 and a toothedwheel 24 is arranged in the pedestal that engages with the toothed rack22, more specifically on two sides opposite from each other, so as toensure that the force is applied symmetrically. The two toothed wheels24 are coupled to a damping means that can include a silicone damper.

On the rim of the recess 18, there is a plurality of elastic holdingnoses 26 each having an end face that faces the contact surface 14 andis beveled so that they automatically withdraw towards the outside whenthe cover 16 is moved into the retracted position and the holding nosesstrike the placement surface.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a cup holder according to a second embodiment. Thedifference from the first embodiment is that, instead of the holdingnoses 26, two holding tabs 30 are provided that are positioned acrossfrom each other. They can be adjusted between a folded-in position (seeFIG. 6) and a folded-out position (see FIGS. 7 and 8); they areelastically urged into the folded-out position by a spring. Like theholding noses 26, the holding tabs 30 serve to hold and stabilize acontainer that is placed in the cup holder.

A rod mechanism (not shown) is provided by means of which the holdingtabs 30 are moved from the folded-out position into the folded-inposition as soon as the cover 16 is moved into the retracted position.Instead of the rod mechanism, it is also possible to use a cam mechanismthat consists of a curved path and a tracing element that is in contactwith it.

1. A cup holder for a motor vehicle, the cup holder having a box-likepedestal (12) with outer side surfaces a and an outer placement surface(14) on its top, the pedestal (12) being stationary relative to thevehicle, the cup holder further having a box-like cover (16) which hasside walls defining an interior space, the cover (16) being placed overthe pedestal (12) so that the side walls of the cover (16) are guidedalong the outer side surfaces of the pedestal (12) and the pedestalextends into the interior space of the cover, the cover (16) having arecess (18) for supporting a cup, the recess being concentric with theouter placement surface (14) of the pedestal (12), said pedestalsupporting said cover for movement relative to the vehicle.
 2. The cupholder according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality ofelastic holding noses (26) is provided on the cover (16).
 3. The cupholder according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (18) ofthe cover (16) has a shape for receiving a cup.
 4. The cup holderaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (16) is movablerelative to the pedestal (12) along an axis of the recess (18).
 5. Aholder for a cup, said holder comprising: a pedestal (12) having outerside surfaces and an outer top surface, said outer top surface defininga placement surface (14) for supporting the cup; and a cover (16) havinginner side surfaces such that said outer side surfaces of said pedestal(12) slide along said inner side surfaces of said cover (16) and guidesaid cover (16) for movement of said cover (16) from a first position toa second position relative to said pedestal (12), said pedestalextending outwardly of said cover when said cover is in the secondposition, said cover (16) having a recess (18) extending through a topsurface of said cover (16) for laterally supporting the cup on saidplacement surface (14).
 6. The cup holder according to claim 1 wherein,the outer placement surface of the pedestal extends transverse to theouter side surfaces of the pedestal, the recess in the cover extendingthrough a top of the cover extending generally parallel to the outerplacement surface.
 7. The cup holder according claim 1 wherein, thepedestal defines an interior space, the cover being spaced from theinterior space of the pedestal.
 8. The cup holder according to claim 1wherein, the outer side surfaces of the pedestal extend in a firstdirection from the placement surface and the side walls of the coverextend in the same first direction from the recess.